Spike, our non-releasable North American Porcupine, was found on a road near his dead mother when he was only a few days old. We have raised many very young porcupines to a successful release, but Spike was different. He was very tame. Like our Red Fox, Jax, he had no obvious head trauma, but he must have received some because he remained completely tame throughout his babyhood.
We continued to raise him as a wild porcupine but eventually realized that his tameness was permanent. He can be picked up easily, follows us when we go for walks on programs, never raises his quills, or swishes his tail. He also shows no interest in wild foods which we always offer porcupettes from the beginning, and he climbs only short heights.
Spike is a wonderful education animal and is much loved by all that meet him.
